SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Reigning Big West Player of the Week Kayla Neto landed a career-best 35 kills as Cal State Fullerton extended its winning streak to five matches in a five-set (25-17, 22-25, 27-25, 23-25, 15-12) victory over UC Santa Barbara on Friday night at the Thunderdome.
With the win, the Titans (11-10, 5-3 Big West) move into a tie with Long Beach State for second in the Big West standings, while the Gauchos fall to 11-12 overall and 4-4 in league play.
In the fifth and deciding set, Neto was responsible for seven of Fullerton's nine kills as the club hit at a clip of .241 in the final game, while holding the Gauchos to a .091 attacking percentage.
Junior Bre Moreland planted 13 kills and added a season-best 21 digs for her 12th double-double of the year. Freshman Lauren Kissell added 12 kills, while hitting at a clip of .306 and stuffing six UCSB attempts with six block assists.
The Titans held the Gauchos to a .148 attacking percentage by totaling 114 digs and 16 blocks. Senior Gabrielle Dewberry found her way to a career-best 34 digs, while freshman Hollland Crenshaw bested her previous career high with nine block assists.
After coming out the break even at 1-1, Fullerton took a 2-1 lead with a 27-25 win in game three. Neto led the Titans with 7.5 points in game three as CSF got to 26 digs and totaled three blocks. The Gauchos evened the game in the fourth set by attacking at a clip of .245 as CSF committed six attacking errors.
Sophomore Julie Consani guided the Titan offense with a career-high 48 assists, while adding a career-high 17 digs.
Leah Sully led UCSB with 20 kills and 22 digs.
Fullerton returns to action at 7 p.m., Saturday at Cal Poly.
Notes: Kayla Neto's 35 kills tied for fourth in CSF single-match history…Gabrielle Dewberry's career-high 34 digs tied for sixth in Titan single-match history…Neto recorded her ninth straight double-double (12th overall) with 35 kills and 20 digs…Bre Moreland recorded her 12th double-double with 13 kills and a season high 21 digs…Julie Consani recorded career highs with 48 assists and 17 digs for her third double-double of the season…Holland Crenshaw's nine block assists were a new career high…Fullerton's five-match winning streak is its longest since winning the final nine matches of the 2010 regular season…the Titans are now 3-3 in five-set matches during 2012.